City Sues Dentist In Fraud Case

A Chicago dentist was charged with bilking the city of more than $2 million in fraudulent insurance claims in a civil suit filed by the city Monday in U.S. District Court.

Dr. Richard Berke was accused of cheating the city dental insurance plan by overcharging and by submitting false claims during the last four years in a lawsuit filed by the city Law Department`s new Affirmative Litigation Division.

Corporation Counsel James Montgomery noted that under the city`s dental plan, city employees are required to pay 50 percent of the bill charged for most dental work.

However, most of Berke`s patients who were city workers were not charged, according to Montgomery. Instead, Berke billed the city at inflated rates, Montgomery charged, as well as allegedly submitting some claims for work that was never done.

``This resulted in an illegal benefit to his patients and Dr. Berke at the expense of the city and its taxpayers,`` Montgomery charged.

Berke, who maintains offices at 4200 W. Peterson Ave., was reported to be ill with the flu Monday and unavailable to reply to the charges, according to an office receptionist.

The suit to recover damages from Berke is one of four legal actions initiated by the new division created to recover funds stolen, embezzled or defrauded from the city government by employees, contractors or vendors.

The division also will pursue cases of housing discrimination and civil rights violations.